NBPA VP Mason: Season 'absolutely' in jeopardy

LAS VEGAS -- Roger Mason, Jr., New York Knicks guard and the Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association, arrived at Impact Basketball on Wednesday. Minutes after competing in his first game in the "Lockout League," Mason delivered a postgame message to a group of reporters that was free of any sugar coating.

"I'm an optimistic person at heart but what would make me think that we would have a season? Right now it's looking like we're going to miss training camp and some preseason games. Unless some things change, we could lose the season."

That harsh assessment is the result of a Tuesday meeting between the NBA and NBPA in New York City in which the owners refused to budge in their insistence on a hard salary cap despite additional proposed salary concessions on the part of players. Entering the meeting, momentum seemed to be building that a compromise would be reached so that the ongoing lockout didn't result in a delayed start to the 2011-2012 NBA season.

"I think there was a false sense of optimism leading into yesterday's meetings," Mason said. "That was a little tough because once we went to the meeting yesterday it was really more of the same. The NBA and the owners want to change the system and they also want to make economic changes. We understand the landscape that the world is different so we're willing to sacrifice and give money back. But a system with a hard cap is something we don't want to do."

Mason is in Las Vegas to lead a status report meeting for players on Thursday. He expects the meeting to draw "75 or 80" players.

"We were hoping to be coming to Vegas like everyone with some type of news, some type of offer from the NBA," Mason admitted. "They had no such offer for us. We've got to be honest with the players and let them know how far apart we are."

"Everybody is frustrated," Mason acknowledged. "We're not playing the game that we love. The fans are frustrated, the people working behind the scenes who make the game happen are frustrated. It's dangerous because with the NFL doing well, it's not something you want to mess around with. We share everybody's frustration. We want to play. It's not fair right now what the NBA and the owners are trying to present us. It's not fair."

The looming question is whether the increased frustration and impatience will blossom into dissension. Mason acknowledged that some player agents are pushing for a decertification of the union but maintained that the NBPA has never raised the issue with the NBA in its talks.

"Obviously agents are calling for it, we're not blind to that," Mason said. "We just need to be on the same page. We don't need a contingent of agents pushing for one thing and then the union pushing for another."

A usurping of the NBPA's power would certainly represent a game-changer in the negotiations. Mason, as you might expect, preached solidarity.

"Any time there is turmoil on one side of the negotiations it hurts you. I'm sure [the owners] would love us to have dissension among us [players]. Today and tomorrow it's our job to let the players know what's going on."

NBPA VP Mason: Season 'absolutely' in jeopardy

The reason the NBA is in trouble is clear. It's not how much they players are making. It's a matter of revenue. Revenue is not there because the NBA is simply a bad product.

I've been a big NBA fan since I was a kid. Most of my friends have lost faith in the integrity of the game, and I am right behind them. The NBA is a bad product. They need to start by stopping all of the whining. When I see a grown man cry like a little girl and make sour faces like he just had his Binkie taken away, I am embarassed to even be watching.They should make it an automatic Technical if a player addresses the refs. I know that is extreme, but all the whiney-a$$ed cry babies have taken it too far and it should be stopped.Second, they need to improve the refereeing of the games. The whole officiating staff should be required to review the game tape after each game, and it should be open to the public. After a Kobe gets fouled 12-14 times in a game, and the ref is shown (through replay) that only three or four of the fouls were legit, The guy might be shamed into calling only what he sees. Instead these guys assume there must have been a foul, and call a lot of phantom fouls (same thing with the no-calls on the superstars). There definitely is not a level playing field for the non-superstars.

Since: Nov 28, 2007

Posted on: September 15, 2011 3:56 pm

NBPA VP Mason: Season 'absolutely' in jeopardy

NBA Lockout............it's Fantastic!

Side note.........how many out of wedlock babies will be born in 2012?

Over/Under..........669

Since: Dec 10, 2008

Posted on: September 15, 2011 1:05 pm

NBPA VP Mason: Season 'absolutely' in jeopardy

Cancel the season already, and lets see how these premidonnas feel about actually trying to make a living in the real world

canceling one season wont hurt...the top players have money and their money make money the lower level players dont live(or shouldnt) that flasy life style so they wont but hurting unless they blew it all away. in the end they still will make more that you and I premidonnas or not they will be ok in the long run you still be here on cbs hating on them and calling them inmates.

Since: Mar 27, 2009

Posted on: September 15, 2011 12:56 pm

NBPA VP Mason: Season 'absolutely' in jeopardy

It's not fair right now what the NBA and the owners are trying to present us. It's not fair."

Waaaaaaa, waaaaaaaaaaa, waaaaaaaaaaaa! It's just not fair that we get to play the game that we love and get paid millions of dallors to do so, it's just not fair. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Who cares about the NBA and it's constant hype (Michael Jordan AND the Chicago Bulls, "King" James AND the Cleveland Cavs, Dwight Howard AND the Orlando Magic, etc., etc. ad nausea!). This is a league built on hype, individualism, and showboating, not team work and sportsmanship. Hold fast owners and don't give in to the inmates running the asylum and making the rules. I or one am really going to enjoy NCAA Basketball and Hockey this Winter!

Cancel the season already, and lets see how these premidonnas feel about actually trying to make a living in the real world!

Since: Oct 3, 2006

Posted on: September 15, 2011 12:20 pm

NBPA VP Mason: Season 'absolutely' in jeopardy

Fold the garbage league - do us all a favor. Are we going to see "season in jeopardy" headlines everyday until they finally do cancel it? The news dedicates too much time to things that in real life, are meaningless. When you talk about the NBA, you're talking about one of the most corrupt organizations in America, run by one of the biggest AHoles known to man. The sooner this corrupt, disfunctional league can be laid to rest, the better off we will all be. Good riddance.

Since: Sep 27, 2006

Posted on: September 15, 2011 12:15 pm

NBPA VP Mason: Season 'absolutely' in jeopardy

The fact is true this isn't the NFL and nobody really does care. And I am a season ticket holder since 1989. Hope the whole season gets whiped away.

Since: Mar 31, 2011

Posted on: September 15, 2011 12:05 pm

NBPA VP Mason: Season 'absolutely' in jeopardy

For everyone that keeps writing who cares if an NBA season is lost and that no one cares about the NBA... Get off the NBA site and go back to your Call of Duty game!!! Why are you commenting on an NBA article if you don't care. Go finish watching Star Wars for the 560000th time and GET LOST!! Go NBA!!!

Since: Mar 31, 2011

Posted on: September 15, 2011 11:58 am

NBPA VP Mason: Season 'absolutely' in jeopardy

For everyone that keeps writing who cares if an NBA season is lost and that no one cares about the NBA... Get off the NBA site and go back to your Call of Duty game!!! Why are you commenting on an NBA article if you don't care. Go finish watching Star Wars for the 560000th time and GET LOST!! Go NBA!!!

Since: Jul 16, 2010

Posted on: September 15, 2011 11:08 am

NBPA VP Mason: Season 'absolutely' in jeopardy

How about the NBA just makes an agreement already. I dont watch basketball as much as baseball or football but its always great to have around. They were saying the same things about the NFL season saying it would be cancelled etc. This will all work out, just give it a little more time and im sure that there will be an agreement and a NBA season.

Since: Sep 19, 2007

Posted on: September 15, 2011 10:31 am

NBPA VP Mason: Season 'absolutely' in jeopardy

The reason the NBA is in trouble is clear. It's not how much they players are making. It's a matter of revenue. Revenue is not there because the NBA is simply a bad product. Few care about the NBA until the playoffs and it is rarely on TV on the major networks. Heck, the playoffs weren't on any major networks until the finals. The NBA is bad and is in need of a makeover. Until Bird v Magic saved the NBA, the finals were on tape delay at midnight. Until they fix the product, there won't be many buyers and a lockout will only be noticed when we have to hear about it on ESPN every 15 minutes. Otherwise, the NBA would go the way of the dodo and most would not care.